Want to know how to travel in style, just like the pros? We check in with frequent fliers to find out how often they fly, their favorite destinations and what they never leave home without.
Name: Alice Rose
Occupation: Book editor and author
Hometown: Berkeley, CA
Residence: Berkeley, CA
College: University of California Santa Barbara
College major: Literature and Creative Studies
Short bio: Alice Rose is an editor for Ulysses Press, specializing in phrasebooks, cultural guides and cookbooks. She is the co-author of “Party Brazil 2014 Phrasebook” and “Dirty Portuguese.” She has studied and lived in Bahia where she learned how to be Brazilian–she is now late for almost everything. Alice has practiced capoeira for 7 years and assists her husband and co-author, Jadson Caçador, teach the martial art in Oakland, California. When she is not training capoeira or working on her Bahian accent she is practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu, cooking, and teaching kids about fossils.
Languages spoken: English, Portuguese
How often do you fly? Not often enough! 5 to 6 times a year.
How many countries have you been to? 14
How many continents have you been to? 4
Earliest travel memory: I grew up around traveling. My father was a travel writer. He wrote a series of guidebooks about the West Coast and Hawaii. I always say I had the luckiest “profession” as a kid. I got to travel with my family to Hawaii nearly every summer. My father updated the material in the books, my mother took amazing photographs, and my brother and I got to enjoy the perks—everything from swimming with dolphins and attending hokey luaus to surf lessons and scenic hikes.
Favorite American city: New Orleans.
Favorite international city: Salvador. Not only is it the city I will spend the rest of my life visiting (my husband grew up there) but it has a vibe unlike any place in the world. It has the friendliest people, the most lively music, delicious food, and fabulous beaches.
Favorite World Heritage Site: Burgess Shale, Canadian Rockies.
Aisle or window: Definitely the window. I like to see how far from the clouds I am.
Favorite U.S. airport: Burbank—purely for nostalgic reasons.
Favorite island: Big Island, Hawaii. It’s got the most heart of any of the main Hawaiian Islands.
Favorite beach: Porto da Barra. This is a beach in Salvador, Brazil. The first time I went there I hated it—it is a small beach in the middle of the city, it’s loud, crowded, there are no waves and a constant stream of people trying to sell you everything from sunscreen to sheepskin rugs (no joke). It is also THE spot to be on the weekends and after months and months of walking down to those sands, I have embraced it as my favorite beach. I love the ambience, the people, the endless selection of trinkets (mostly the popsicles are what I’m after) and I can live with the fact that there are no waves…it’s a big tropical bathtub.
Favorite fancy restaurant: That restaurant in Cinque Terre with the amazing crab and artichoke pasta.
Favorite hole-in-the-wall: The stand at the Lainey College Flea market in Oakland, California that has the most amazing quesadillas north of the border.
Favorite fruit: Passion fruit. I love their gelatinous crunch.
Favorite food: Ice cream.
Least favorite food: Mushrooms!
Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): Homemade chai.
Favorite travel show(s): Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.
Favorite travel book(s): Frommer’s, Lonely Planet and of course the Hidden series, R.I.P.
Right now I am reading: “Salt: A World History,” “Futebol: The Brazilian Way of Life,” and “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.”
Favorite travel website(s)—besides JohnnyJet.com, of course! Roads and Kingdoms, viajenaviagem.com.
5 things you bring on a plane: A book, toothbrush, water bottle, almonds and most importantly, Smartwool socks.
What do you always seem to forget? Extra room in my bag for the way home.
What do you like least about travel? Flying. I am not too at-ease until I get my feet on the ground.
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport Duty Free store? Chocolate.
Favorite travel app(s): Mosey!
Worst travel moment: When I was in Chile and learned that my mother was in the hospital and probably wouldn’t make it. I spent 24 hours not knowing if she was alive and the flight back was the most turbulent one I have ever been on to this day. My mom is strong and healthy now!
What’s your dream destination? I would love to visit Japan.
Best travel tip: If you want to truly know a place, take the time to get to know the locals.
